Rice exporters have already signed several contracts for 2004 to ship about one million tonnes of rice, the Trade Ministry reports.
Some 400,000 tonnes will go to Iraq, 150,000 to Brazil and 73,000 to the Philippines. Delivery is expected in February and March.
Another 250,000 tonnes of 5 per cent broken rice will be shipped to Brazil.
Viet Nam is now the world’s second largest rice exporter, after Thailand, and sells its rice under such trademarks as Nine Golden Dragons and Flamingo.
In 2004, the country is expected to export 3.5 million tonnes of rice, with an export revenue of US$700 million.
For 2003, Viet Nam exported 4 million tonnes of rice, surpassing the year’s target by 500,000 tonnes.
However, 2004 is expected to be a more difficult year for exporters, trade officials said.
Ten Eastern European countries, which have been traditional markets for Vietnamese rice, will become members of the EU in May. Because of their new status, they will impose an import tariff of 410 euros per tonne of rice.
This year, the US and India plan to promote their rice exports, and the US is forecast to export 2.9 million tonnes, an increase of 100,000 tonnes over 2003. India is planning to export 3.25 million tonnes in 2004. In 2004, the Philippines government will no longer sign contracts with other country’s government entities.
Exporters will have to conduct business directly with one another, which will make competition more difficult for the Vietnamese, trade ministry officials said.
In 2003, the Phillipines accounted for 17 per cent of Viet Nam’s rice exports, ranking second after Indonesia.
The trade ministry has proposed that local exporters actively seek new markets to gain a stable foothold in the world rice market.